Feed for woodworking machines



Oct. 8, 1929. E, BLQOD Y 1,730,841

FEED FOR wOoDwoRKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 23. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 8, 1929. L. E. BLooD l 1,730,841

FEED FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 23. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenor: Laurence E Blood,

Odi. 8, 1929. E BLOOD 1,730,841

FEED FOR wooDwoRKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 23, 1928- :s sheets-sheet 5 Invuiow': Lauiee od,

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Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE LAURENCE E. BLOOD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO S. A. WOODS MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS FEED FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Application led January 23, 1928.

This invention relates to feeding mecha-k nisms for woodworking machines, such, for example, as melders, and the object is to provide an improved mechanism for separating pieces of wood from a pile and advancing them in succession for the operation ofthe cutter heads of the machine thereon.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the :following description of a preferred embodiment thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: s f

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feeding mechanism y Fig. 2 is an end elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 1; and y y Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary and partly diagrammatic plan sections through the magazine in a plane slightly above the bed.

The embodiment of my invention shown by way of examplein the accompanying drawings operates toy feed out` the bottom board of a pile and is adapted to maintain a continuous feed as long as the supply lasts. I herein use the word board not in the technical sense but in a generic sense and the pieces fed may be relatively large and heavy and yet may be handled by the mechanism disclosed.

Referring to the drawings, on the bed 7 of the woodworking machine a suitable magazine is provided to receive a vertical pile of boards which may embody a fence 9 and a relatively adjustable fence (see Figs. 3 and 4) comprising a base 10 and posts 11, the adjustment providing for the accommodation of pieces of different widths. A front wall or fence 13 extends inward from the fence 9 and the lower end thereof is spaced from the table 7 (see Fig. 2) to provide an opening 15 through which the lowermost board of the pile may be discharged endwise by suitable mechanism such as that about to be described. Asthe board leaves the magazine itis fed to a pair of fast running rolls comprising a bed roll 17 and a top roll 19 which grasp it and feed it on into the machine, My invention more particularly relates to the means for feeding out the boardswhich lie at the bottom of the pile in spite of the weight of the overlying boards thereon and the strong frictional reseriai No. 248,635. i

the pile of boards in the magazine rests f upon a driven feed roll 2() projecting through the bottom of the magazine. Driven feed rollers are also provided for operating on the edges of the bottom board, and I have herein shown three yvertical rolls 21 located along the fence 9, the first and last of which are driven. Suitable means are provided for pressing the board in driven relation to these rolls, such means being organized to insure effective action of the driven rolls 21 and also to permit the boards automatically to move one after another into cooperation with these driving rolls as soon as the preceding board has left the magazine. For this purpose I provide means for pressing the lowermost board against the rolls 21 which will effect a rapid variation of the pressure of the work thereagainst. It will be understood that if a driven roll of this character begins to slip while in contact with the work, it will continue to slip unless the pressure yconditions are changed. I therefore prefer to provide means which are effective to deliver a rapid recurrence of percussive blows againstthe board which willv insure that the board will be moved over into driven relation to the rolls 21 as a` mere steady push could not effectively do, and also will effect at each blow an increase in the effective pressure conditions which will insure the rolls acting.

I herein provide opposing the rolls 21 a shaft 23 adapted todrive a feed roll 25 of generally disc-like form (see Figs. 3 and 4) cut away along one or more chords and adapted to rotate substantially in the plane of the bottom board in the magazine. The shaft 23 is mounted on a frame turning on trunnions 27 in a carriage 29, here shown as a-ilj'ustaely mounted on the under side of the table T to permit the mechanism as a whole to be adjusted when the posts 11 are adj usted and the roll is resiliently held in an in` ward posit-ion toward the opposed rolls 2l by means of the spring 31, best seen in Figs. 8 and d, the arrangement permitting the shaft to swing about the trunnions and the feeoing roll 25 to move away from the rolls 2l when necessary.

The normal position of the shaft 23 with the springunstressed is such that, when in its rotation see Fig. 3) a straight sided portion 33 thereof extends longitudinally of the machine, the roll lies outward of the magazine, leaving it unobstructed so that a board may gravitate down over the face of the rolls 2l between the same and the roll 25 to take the place of one fed ont. As the roll 25 turns, however, the adjacentperipheral portion 35 will project inwardly of the boundaries of the magazine and will deliver a diagonal hammer blow against the edge of the board at the bottom of the pile which will serve to press the saine against the opposed feed roll 2l and will also have a component or forward feeding' movement. ln delivering this blow the head its shaft will normally vield against the spring 3l This hammer blow may be several times re peated as the board is fed forward to the left in the figure., depending upon the various resista-nces which may impede the delivery from the pile of that particular board. Thus, if in a given case this board and the one above it were particularly firmly locked on account of the rough surfaces thereof. a greater resistance would be encountered than in the case of relatively smooth and straightstock.

By way of example, in the case cfa fast feed machine the shaft 23 may be rotated about one hundred revolutions per minute and with two peripheral portions 35 as shown a number of blows will be struck each second. This arrangement not only insures driving the bottommost board laterally7 against a ed roll 521 and provides for maintaining' it pressed thereto but causes a variation in the pressure conditions. For instance.` if the rolls have start-ed to feed the board but due to some resitsance therolls 2l commence to slip, at the next blow struck by the roll 2.5 there will be a definite increase of the pressure due to the force exert-ec in overcoming the inertia of the spring 3l necessary' to permit the peripheral portions 35 of roll to pass and this increase in pressure will permit the rolls 2l' to grip the board and feed it forward again.

The parts her in described may conveniently be driven in the manner indicated in l and 2. 4i belt 3'? from a suitable power shaft drives the shaft of bed roll l? and a run of this beltmay drive the shaft of a bevel 39 meshing with a bevel gear ell on shaft 23,

the axis of trunnions 2l lying in the plane of ing of the shaft.

agement of t-he bevels to permit the yield- At the further side of the machine a chain Ll0 on the sha-ft of roll 17 may drive see Fig'. 2) spreche 4l on the shaft of a i aware that the invention may be emt in other specific forms without depart n1, .1. 1. t' j tf1 ,L

nom the spirit or essen Yia at Moines thereof, and l therefore desire the present embodnn to be considered in all respects as illust' ive and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Claims l. A feed for a woodworking machine comprising, in combination with a magazine to receive a pile of boards and having an opening for the endwise discharge therefrom of the bottom board,'a driven feed roll opposing an edge of the board cooperating means to press the board thereagainst and effective to produce in rapid recurrence during its feed of each board an increase in the pressure conditions.

2. A. feed for a woodworking machine comprising, in combination with a magazine to receive a pile of boards and having an openfor the endwise discharge therefrom of the bottom board, a driven feed roll opposing an edge of the board and means operated to deliver a rapid succession of percussive blows during the feed of each board against the opposite side thereof to press it into driven relation to said roll.

A feed for a woodworking machine comprising, in combination with a magazine to receive a pile of boards and having an opening for the endwise discharge therefrom of the bottom board, a driven feed roll opposing an edge of the board and means operated to deliver a rapid succession of percussive blows during the feed of each board against the opposite side thereof to press it into driven relation to said roll and in a direction to exert also a feeding-out force on the board.

el. A feed for a woodworking machine comprising, in combination with a magazine to receive a pile of boards and having an opening for the endwise discharge therefrom of the bottom board, a driven feed roll opposing an edge of the board and a rotating driven member opposingthe said roll having a body portion which is disposed outside of said magazine and one or more peripherally projecting portions which in its rotation intermittently enter the magazine to strike repeatedly the opposite sides of each board during its feed and to co-operate with said driven roll as a feeding couple.

.5. A feed for a woodworking machine comprising, in combination With a magazine to receive a pile of boards and having an opening for the endwise discharge therefrom of the bottom board, driven feed rolls under riding the pile and opposing one of the edges of the bottom board and a driven feed roll opposing the opposite edge of the board, said roll being cut away whereby in one or more of its angular positions during revolution it Will be clear of said magazine to permit the boards of the pile successively to come into driven relation to the rolls and in other positions its peripheral portion will repeatedly strike each board in the magazine during its feed and cooperate With an opposed roll as a feeding couple.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LAURENCE E. BLOOD. 

